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julyavenue's review
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I liked this better than the first two! Though I would have liked more wooing, the slower burn was nice. And the scenes with the children were so sweet.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Physical abuse and Sexual assault
Minor: Infertility and Rape
alisoun's review
4.0
Mena and Liam
Oh lordy how Mena's trauma is handled is so gorg!
Two spicy scenes and it's a slow burn - no sex until about 80% in but some heavy make outs beforehand, one of which she withdraws her consent from so they stop.
Liam is ????? Idk like he is so hot and all but also such a tool for colonisation. How do I feel about this lol I have no idea. I adored how much he loved his children. I love reading teenagers - so grumpy and complex.
The TWs - make sure you check them.
Interestingly infertility is mentioned a lot. Mena is "barren" and not even on the epilogue is she pregnant or do they have another child. I'm so used to books having infertile women as a theme and then having them be pregnant in the epilogue.
Oh lordy how Mena's trauma is handled is so gorg!
Two spicy scenes and it's a slow burn - no sex until about 80% in but some heavy make outs beforehand, one of which she withdraws her consent from so they stop.
Liam is ????? Idk like he is so hot and all but also such a tool for colonisation. How do I feel about this lol I have no idea. I adored how much he loved his children. I love reading teenagers - so grumpy and complex.
The TWs - make sure you check them.
Interestingly infertility is mentioned a lot. Mena is "barren" and not even on the epilogue is she pregnant or do they have another child. I'm so used to books having infertile women as a theme and then having them be pregnant in the epilogue.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gun violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, and War
Moderate: Infertility
Minor: Rape
ivegotyourpaperback's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.75
While I liked this story overall, it’s not my favourite in the series.
I loved Mena, and felt like I could relate to her. She felt very real to me, full of self doubt and anxiety at first. And as we went along she had great character growth: she was in her element and regained her agency during her time in Scotland.
Liam, on the other hand, irritated me as a hero. Jumping to conclusions, irrational fits of anger, a propensity for raising his voice, and making everyone walk around on eggshells around him. What a fucking catch. How are the women not swooning in droves? 🙄
I didn’t feel aroused or intrigued by his blustering character. I actually found myself feeling mostly scared as I empathised with the characters who had to interact with Liam. Though he certainly became more palatable by the end of the story.
As for the audiobook format, the narrator, Derek Perkins, had a lovely cadence and performed the text very well. I enjoyed his Scottish accent particularly. I am, however, unsure if he was the perfect choice for this series as his voice sounds a tad too old for the characters. This was my first romance audiobook narrated by a man, which I found refreshing.
And finally: I hate the word ‘cleft’ 🤢 There’s nothing I about this word that I find sexy.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Violence and Forced institutionalization
Minor: Sexual violence and Murder
emilyveryromance's review against another edition
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Fatphobia and Violence
awortiz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Just no.
This book glamorizes the violence of British colonialism as heroic.
As the demon highlander, Liam MacKenzie commits horrendous acts of violence as a Lieutenant in the British Army, including literally murdering entire families and villages in India. After murdering Jani’s village, Liam then takes him in as a valet as an act of compassion? Yeah, no. And after serving Liam loyally for years, Jani rightfully tries to take his revenge only to ultimately forgive him? Oh dear lord, everything about this entire storyline makes me so angry.
Most historical romances completely sidestep British colonialism - and I get it, this is a romance, we’re not here to explore imperialism (although I wish more would). However, when a book specifically makes British colonialism part of the story, authors need to do better. And this is not better.
Beyond that, Jani is characterized as exotic and servile throughout the novel. This isn’t the first time Kerrigan Byrne has completely missed the boat and characterized the only POCs in her stories offensively.
As with the previous two books, the violence depicted in this novel was over the top and gratuitous. This time, not just with Liam’s backstory, but with Mina’s too. Why, after going through what she went through would Mina run into the arms of a violent man?
I’m also realizing that despite changing up the names, titles, and vocations, Kerrigan Byrne has a type: large, dark, dangerous, and deeply traumatized heroes. And it’s starting to get repetitive.
I’m taking a break from this series because I don’t have the time to dig through problematic storylines when I could literally be reading anything else.
This book glamorizes the violence of British colonialism as heroic.
As the demon highlander, Liam MacKenzie commits horrendous acts of violence as a Lieutenant in the British Army, including literally murdering entire families and villages in India. After murdering Jani’s village, Liam then takes him in as a valet as an act of compassion? Yeah, no. And after serving Liam loyally for years, Jani rightfully tries to take his revenge only to ultimately forgive him? Oh dear lord, everything about this entire storyline makes me so angry.
Most historical romances completely sidestep British colonialism - and I get it, this is a romance, we’re not here to explore imperialism (although I wish more would). However, when a book specifically makes British colonialism part of the story, authors need to do better. And this is not better.
Beyond that, Jani is characterized as exotic and servile throughout the novel. This isn’t the first time Kerrigan Byrne has completely missed the boat and characterized the only POCs in her stories offensively.
As with the previous two books, the violence depicted in this novel was over the top and gratuitous. This time, not just with Liam’s backstory, but with Mina’s too. Why, after going through what she went through would Mina run into the arms of a violent man?
I’m also realizing that despite changing up the names, titles, and vocations, Kerrigan Byrne has a type: large, dark, dangerous, and deeply traumatized heroes. And it’s starting to get repetitive.
I’m taking a break from this series because I don’t have the time to dig through problematic storylines when I could literally be reading anything else.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, and War
dreamfyre's review against another edition
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
"It was the first happiness I ever knew to look into yer eyes. Ye taught me the meanings to words other than forgiveness and redemption. Desire. Yearning. And love. Ye are my blanket of stars, Mena, my reason to look to the heavens. My map when I am lost and my point of light when all is dark."
OH. MY. GOD. Words cannot express how much I loved this book. It was perfect.
Liam Mackenzie, the Demon Highlander, is a widower, retired Lieutenant Colonel and Laird of the Mackenzie clan. Liam is a huge, ill-tempered man with a very tortured past. Philomena St. Vincent, Viscountess Benchley, has been abused by her husband for most of her marriage, and been committed to an asylum. After she’s rescued from the asylum, Mena is forced to flee from her husband and his family, so she takes on a job as a governess to Liam’s children.
I was so excited to read this when I found out Mena was the heroine. Their first meeting was hilarious and they had great chemistry. Mena was such a strong character, she stood up to Liam and scolded him despite being afraid of him. I loved Mena’s relationships with the children. Their relationship developed a bit slower than in the previous books, but it made their connection seem more real.
If you like HR and haven’t read this one already, go do it!! (But read the CWs first)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Forced institutionalization, Murder, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Rape and Suicide
margonaute's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
briannareads1342's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Violence, and Forced institutionalization
Moderate: Infertility, Mental illness, Suicide, Torture, and Grief